Easy Ways to Make Money in OSRS for Beginners and Veterans

Easy Ways to Make Money in OSRS for Beginners and Veterans

Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a game where gold pieces (GP) fuel your adventures, whether you’re buying better gear, training skills, or chasing that elusive bond for membership. Making money in OSRS doesn’t have to be a grind, especially if you know the right methods. This guide dives into easy, accessible ways to earn GP, perfect for new players and seasoned adventurers alike. From no-skill requirements to low-effort skilling, we’ve got you covered with strategies that maximize profit and fun.

In OSRS, gold is the backbone of progress. It lets you buy weapons, armor, supplies, and even membership bonds, which cost around 6–8M GP depending on market prices. Whether you’re a free-to-play (F2P) player or a member (P2P), having a steady income stream opens up the game’s possibilities. The methods below are designed to be approachable, requiring minimal startup costs or high-level skills, so you can start stacking GP right away.

No-Skill-Requirement Money Makers

F2P OSRS Beginner Money Making Guide Beginners Old school runescape

If you’re fresh off Tutorial Island or just want a method that doesn’t demand hours of training, these no-skill options are ideal. They’re simple, effective, and great for building your initial bank.

Collecting Cowhides in Lumbridge

Cowhides are a classic F2P money maker that requires zero skills. Head to the cow field east of Lumbridge, kill cows, and collect their hides. Each hide sells for around 150–200 GP on the Grand Exchange (GE).

  • Location: Lumbridge cow field, north of the castle.
  • Process: Kill cows, pick up hides, bank in Lumbridge Castle, repeat.
  • Profit: Approximately 50k–70k GP/hour with 28 inventory slots.

Pro Tip: Complete the Prince Ali Rescue quest to avoid the 10 GP toll to Al Kharid, where you can tan hides into leather for extra profit (about 50 GP more per hide).

Stronghold of Security

The Stronghold of Security in Barbarian Village is a one-time gold boost perfect for new accounts. By navigating its four levels and answering security questions, you earn 10k GP and some fancy boots.

  • Requirements: None, just a willingness to click through doors.
  • Profit: 10k GP in about 10–15 minutes.
  • Bonus: Unlocks fighting boots (F2P) or better boots if you’re a member.

Pro Tip: Bring some food if you’re low-level, as there are aggressive monsters in deeper levels.

Picking Up Ashes

Players training Firemaking often leave ashes behind, especially near the Grand Exchange or Varrock. Collecting these is a low-effort way to make steady GP.

  • Location: Grand Exchange or Varrock Square.
  • Profit: Around 50k–100k GP/hour, with ashes selling for ~2k per stack.
  • Requirements: None, just an inventory to fill.

Pro Tip: World-hop to find busier spots with more ashes to collect.

Skilling for Steady Profits

Skilling methods offer reliable income while leveling up your character. These options balance effort and reward, making them great for players who enjoy multitasking.

Mining and Selling Ores

Mining is a straightforward way to earn GP, especially for F2P players. Iron ore is a solid choice due to its demand and decent price.

  • Requirements: 15 Mining (for iron), a pickaxe.
  • Location: Al Kharid mine or Varrock southeast mine.
  • Profit: ~100k–150k GP/hour, with iron ore at ~150–200 GP each.

Pro Tip: Bank ores in Al Kharid or use the Varrock armor (from Varrock Diary) for a chance at double ores.

Fishing Lobsters (F2P and P2P)

Fishing lobsters is a relaxing, semi-AFK method that pays well for both F2P and P2P players.

  • Requirements: 40 Fishing, a lobster pot (F2P) or harpoon (P2P).
  • Location: Musa Point (Karamja) for F2P, Catherby for P2P.
  • Profit: 50k–80k GP/hour in F2P, up to 100k in P2P.

Pro Tip: In F2P, pay 30 GP to travel to Karamja, fish, and cook lobsters for extra Cooking XP before banking in Port Sarim.

Woodcutting Yew Logs

Chopping yew logs is a low-effort way to make money while training Woodcutting.

  • Requirements: 60 Woodcutting, a decent axe (rune recommended).
  • Location: South of Falador or behind Varrock Castle.
  • Profit: 60k–100k GP/hour, with yew logs at ~200–250 GP each.

Pro Tip: Use a bank teleport like the Falador teleport to speed up trips.

Flipping Items on the Grand Exchange

Flipping involves buying items low and selling them high on the GE. It’s a skill-free method that can scale with your bank size, making it ideal for players who enjoy market play.

How to Start Flipping

Start with a small budget (even 10k GP works) and focus on high-volume items like runes, feathers, or food.

  • Steps:
    1. Check GE prices for items with stable margins (e.g., feathers at 2–3 GP profit each).
    2. Buy at the low end of the price range, sell at the high end.
    3. Wait for trades to complete (can take minutes to hours).
  • Profit: 50k–500k GP/hour depending on capital and item choice.

Pro Tip: Use tools like GE Tracker to spot trends, but always double-check in-game prices, as markets fluctuate.

Best Items to Flip for Beginners

Item Approx. Buy Price Approx. Sell Price Profit per Item
Feathers 2 GP 5 GP 3 GP
Fire Runes 4 GP 6 GP 2 GP
Raw Lobsters 100 GP 120 GP 20 GP

Pro Tip: Start with F2P items to avoid membership costs, then scale to P2P items like herbs or potions as your bank grows.

Combat-Based Money Makers for Low Levels

Combat can be profitable even without high stats. These methods focus on easy-to-kill monsters with valuable drops, accessible to most players.

Killing Chaos Druids

Chaos Druids in the Edgeville Dungeon (Wilderness section) drop herbs and runes, making them a goldmine for low-level P2P players.

  • Requirements: 20–30 Combat, basic gear (e.g., mithril armor).
  • Location: Edgeville Dungeon, north-western corner.
  • Profit: 100k–200k GP/hour, with herbs like ranarr (~5k GP) and law runes (~200 GP).

Pro Tip: Bring a teleport (e.g., Varrock tab) to escape PKers in the Wilderness. Bank frequently to secure loot.

Hill Giants in Edgeville Dungeon

Hill Giants are an F2P-friendly option with consistent drops like big bones and limpwurt roots.

  • Requirements: 20–30 Combat, decent melee gear.
  • Location: Edgeville Dungeon, accessible with a brass key.
  • Profit: 50k–80k GP/hour, with big bones (~200 GP) and roots (~800 GP).

Pro Tip: Train Slayer alongside this to unlock better money makers later, like Demonic Gorillas.

Tips to Maximize Your Earnings

Regardless of the method, a few strategies can boost your GP/hour and make your time in Gielinor more efficient.

Use Teleports and Shortcuts

Minimize travel time with teleports (e.g., Varrock or Lumbridge tabs) or shortcuts like the Lumbridge canoe system. For P2P players, jewelry like the Ring of Dueling or Amulet of Glory speeds up banking.

Combine Training with Money Making

Methods like fishing or woodcutting double as XP grinders. For example, fishing lobsters earns ~10k Fishing XP/hour alongside 80k GP. This saves time in the long run.

Track Market Prices

OSRS’s economy is dynamic. Check GE prices before selling bulk items, as prices for cowhides, logs, or herbs can shift daily. Use the GE’s built-in price checker or external tools for real-time data.

Start Small, Scale Up

Begin with low-investment methods like cowhides or ashes, then reinvest profits into flipping or skilling. A 100k GP bank can grow to millions with patience and smart choices.

With these methods, you’re equipped to start earning GP in OSRS, whether you’re slaying cows in Lumbridge or flipping runes on the GE. Pick one that suits your playstyle, and watch your bank grow. Happy scaping!